JOURNALS
The Journals tool offers students the opportunity to
reflect on course content and communicate
privately with the instructor. Instructors can use the
tool to gauge understanding and guide students in
their knowledge acquisition. Instructor comments
can help students refine their writing and ideas.
4.
On the Create Journal page, type a name for
the Journal.
5.
Type
As the journal topic is created, the instructor
determines if the journal entries will be graded.
Students are allowed to create multiple entries for
an individual journal topic, whether it is graded or
not.
The instructor can choose to make journal entries
public, allowing all course members to view all
entries. For example, an instructor may choose to
make a journal public when asking for opinions on
how to improve the evaluation process. Students
can read what other students wrote and build upon
those ideas. Students cannot comment on other
students' entries; only the instructor can add
comments.
The Group Journal tool functions differently, as it
allows all members of a group to view all group
journal entries. A group journal has no journal
topics; it is created by the journal entries submitted
by group members. A group journal can be edited
to add instructions for the members. Group
members and the instructor can add comments.
Creating Journals
Instructors can create one or more Journals for use
by students in their courses. Journal topics must be
created before students can add their entries.
1. In the Control Panel, expand the Course
Tools section.
2.
Select Journals.
3.
On the Journal listing
p a g e, c l i c k C r e a t e
Journal on the Action
Bar.
JOURNALS
optional instructions for the Journal.
Format the text and add images,
links, multimedia, Mashups, and
attachments using the functions in
the Text Editor, if needed. Attachments added using the Text
Editor can be launched in a new
window and have alternate text
added to describe the attachment.
6.
Under Journal Availability, select the Yes
option to make it available to users.
7.
Use the Display After and Display Until date
and time fields to limit the availability of the
blog. Select the Display After and Display
Until check boxes in order to enable the date
and time selections.
8.
Under Journal Settings, select Monthly or
Weekly Index Entries. This indicates how
long that the blogs are visible.
9.
Optionally, select the check box to Allow
Users to Edit and Delete Entries.
10. Optionally, select the check box to Allow
Users to Delete Comments.
11. Optionally, select the check box to Permit
Course Users to View Journal. If selected, the
Journal becomes public. All users can view
all Journal entries made to the Journal topic.
12. Select No grading or the Grade option and
type the number of Points possible. Points
possible will apply to one or more entries
made by the user to the blog topic. Once a
blog is set to be graded, a column is created
for it in the Grade Center. It is permanently
gradable and cannot be set to No grading.
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FTDC: 662-915-7918
JOURNALS
13. Click Submit.
The journal topics appear in alphabetical order on the Journal listing page. Columns can be sorted by
clicking the column title or caret.
Making Journals Available
Journal topics can be made available in several areas of the course. Journals are automatically available in
the Tools -> Journals. However you can create more direct routes to access Journals.
Create a menu link/button by selecting the plus icon at the top of the menu, and then selecting
Create Tool Link. Title the link. Choose Journals from the drop-down list and make
available to students.
It is also possible to insert journals within content areas, folders, and modules. In any
content area, choose Add Interactive Tool, then select Journals. From this view you can create a
new journal topic or link to one that is already created.
Comparing Blogs, Journals, Wikis, and Discussion Boards
BLOG
JOURNAL
WIKI
DISCUSSION BOARD
Common
Uses:
A shared online diary for Personal wri4ng space use in class. for self-­‐reflec4on and private communica4on with the instructor. A collabora4ve space where all students can view, contribute and edit content. Online discussions that are organized hierarchically with forums, threads and replies. Potential
Uses:
“What we did / will do in class” saves instructor having to answer individual inquiries; online discussions about related topics; a place to hand in evidence of class par;cipa;on.
Reflect on personal growth throughout semester; record things learned on field trip; express oneself; document clinical experiences; all are private. Crea;ve wri;ng; group research projects; student-­‐
filled study guide for test (Instructor provides the outline and students collabora;vely fill it in.) Since we’ve had the discussion board in Blackboard since the beginning, this is a tool you might be comfortable with for online discussions. Notes:
Blogs are less structured than the Discussion Board, and they’re chronological. The format is more open and conversa;onal in style. If you set Permit course users to view journal, the journal will not be private, making it more like a blog with commen;ng turned off. When a student is upda;ng a wiki page, the rest of the students are locked out of it un;l it is released. This is the only Bb tool that allows mul;ple students to collaborate within the same text entry area. Discussion boards are easily collapsed, expanded and searched. Users can Subscribe to a forum or thread and receive an email update every ;me someone adds to it. JOURNALS
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!
FTDC: 662-915-7918